Friday, February 12, 2016

The Black Jewels Trilogy --by Anne Bishop

I first became enamored with Ms. Bishop's writing in reading
her series about the Others. When I saw this book, I was pretty sure I'd be in
for a great read. Boy Howdy! Was I ever!!

Anne Bishop creates marvelous worlds, fantastical and yet
believable. The world of the Jewels is unlike any I've ever read. It is
spellbinding, it is dark with shafts of brilliant light. It is the story of
Jaenelle Agneline, born Witch, the "dream made flesh" and her
struggles to stay sane, and free from the asylum where her family locks her
away and unspeakable horrors are perpetrated on her and the other children who
have magic.

The three books take us into the Realms, where we meet Saetan,
the adopted father of Jaenelle, her adopted brother, Lucivar, and the man she
loves, Daemon Sadi. We meet Priestesses who corrupt the magic and try to
destroy all men. And all the while we cannot put the book down, we cannot stop
turning the pages until we get to the end, with it's surprise and more than
satisfactory conclusion. I don't want to say too much, because I want you to
read the books. I can assure you they are not what you think they are. They are
infinitely better than you can possibly imagine. Did I mention there are
dragons, among other wonderful Kindred?

Anne Bishop is perhaps one of, if not the, most polished
writers of fantasy I have ever read. I know better than to go to bed and start
one of her books – unless I go to bed really, really early, because I know I
will read until my eyes burn and no longer focus, then will get up in the
morning and promise myself just one more chapter until the book is finished. I
began this trilogy on Thursday afternoon, and finished it Sunday evening. I think
I took time out to eat, but am not positive. You are warned.

Speaking of warning you, I should mention this is a fantasy
series for adults. It contains sexual matter, and not the kind you want your
kids reading. I know that can be a real turn-off for some, so keep that in
mind.